IBHON 04

Chapter 04

I didn’t know how much time had passed when Mark came back again.

Just now, I had been recalling the settings and storylines I’d created earlier, but to my regret, I realized there wasn’t much about Lin Xiaoya herself. Most of it was just about her acting alongside the male protagonist.

I really regretted not fleshing out Lin Xiaoya’s character and storyline more back when I was writing.

Mark was holding a bottle, inside of which floated a green orb of light.

I assumed this must be the Spring Spirit he mentioned.

Mark didn’t rush to open it immediately. He first helped me sit up, then, from somewhere, pulled out a thin wooden tube—like a straw—and inserted it through the bottle’s cap.

I didn’t think anything unusual about using a straw.

In this world I’d designed, it seemed that everything existed here—including cars and mobile phones.

Basically, whatever existed in my original world existed here as well.

This was all thanks to a high-tech race that existed here.

Mark covered the end of the straw with his finger and said to me, “Xiaoya, open your mouth. Drink it like you used to drink beverages back then.”

I didn’t reply and obediently took the bottle, sucking on it as instructed.

Mark only removed his finger when my mouth was nearly at the straw’s end. Even so, a thin green wisp escaped from the straw.

The wisp hit the wooden bed frame above me (the bed had an extra wooden layer for hanging curtains or small items). The wood quickly sprouted branches and tender leaves, turning the entire bed into a bizarre, tree-like shape.

I remembered I had once set the Spring Spirit to contain a very strong Spring element, giving it top-tier healing, recovery, and regeneration abilities.

While it wasn’t as strong as life-force energy, it came in second.

Also, my body contains the Spring element, so the Spring Spirit was perfectly suited for me.

The Spring Spirit is gentle in nature, and the more you absorb, the better. So Mark was completely confident in letting me take it directly.

Since he had already treated the wooden straw beforehand, I didn’t have to worry about it suddenly growing branches or thickening.

Soon, I had absorbed the entire bottle of Spring Spirit.

The pain in my body gradually faded, my strength returned, and a warm sensation swirled in my stomach. Along with the warmth, there was a faint chill—a magical feeling. This is truly a fantasy world.

“How do you feel, my obedient daughter?” Mark asked eagerly. His expression was like a child who had done something good and was waiting for praise.

“Not much,” I said, shaking my head slightly. My tone still had a weak, sickly edge, but I could already sense some recovery.

Satisfied, I continued, “Father, you didn’t get tricked, did you? I didn’t feel anything. This isn’t fake, is it?”

“Fake?! You little rascal! You dare to trick me! My dear daughter, wait here! While he hasn’t gone far, I’ll go catch him and bring him back!” Mark said as he prepared to rush out.

I chuckled. This Mark is quite amusing.

As a level 99 powerhouse, he couldn’t not know that the Spring Spirit was real. Yet even so, he was willing to cooperate unconditionally with his daughter.

A warm feeling rose in my heart. I wasn’t sure if it was from the Spring Spirit or something else, but I didn’t dislike it. In fact, I kind of liked it.

“Alright, no need to go. I was just teasing you—you’re not that easily fooled. This Spring Spirit is really something. I already feel much better and can walk now,” I said, and to Mark’s astonishment, I jumped off the bed.

“My dear daughter! You absolutely cannot be reckless! If you hurt yourself again, how would I explain it to your late mother?!” Mark panicked, grabbing me and trying to put me back on the bed.

“Relax, it’s fine. You don’t need to be so nervous. I feel really healthy now,” I said, lightly patting my chest and smiling at him.

Seeing that I was truly recovered, Mark finally relaxed. He sighed deeply, eyes full of wistfulness. “Lin Xiaoya… it’s already been 17 years. After all this time, you’ve grown up.”

I was a bit puzzled. In my setting, Mark—the doting father—should always be calling her Xiaoya or “my dear daughter.” Why suddenly the full name?

Suddenly, a thought popped into my head: maybe Mark only uses the full name when there’s something serious to discuss?

In fact, my guess was confirmed. What Mark said next almost made me spit out the Spring Spirit I had just consumed.

“Lin Xiaoya, you’ve reached an age suitable for marriage. Do you have a young man you like? If so, tell me. With the power of the Ma family, your father will make sure you get him.”

“F…Father, why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

“This concerns you. I won’t hide it from you. Earlier, when the Eastern Soul Blizzard gave me the Spring Spirit, he told me there was a condition.”

“This condition… isn’t it that I have to marry him?” Without thinking, I blurted it out.

“As expected of my daughter, you guessed it right away. But he also said he wouldn’t force you. As long as you already have someone you like, he won’t take them from you. So, my dear daughter… do you have someone you like? No matter who it is—even if it’s someone digging in the toilets—I won’t judge.”

“Uh… well… I do,” I said, wearing a bitter expression, like I’d just eaten something terrible.

Does the male protagonist I’ve never met count? I don’t want anything to do with him, but using him as a shield is fine for now.

“Oh, you really do! Who is he? How old? Name?” Mark’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, and even his speech took on a classical tone.

“Um… do I really have to say?”

“Of course.”

“Am I serious or joking?”

“You don’t have one, do you?”

“No, really. His name is Zhou Linfeng, 17 years old, blood type O, black hair, 1.74 meters tall, no myopia, no criminal record, physically weak but doesn’t drink, smoke, or gamble, hardworking, resilient, strong in combat, high output, noble status, excellent elemental attribute, thick-skinned, afraid of his wife, not directionally challenged, kind of foolish but hot-blooded—a rare good guy.” I even gave a thumbs-up, impressed with my memory and eloquence.

Mark’s eyelid twitched; his face turned rather sour. “How do you know so much about him? I thought you’ve never even left the house since childhood.”

“Uh… well…” At that moment, my mind was racing a million miles an hour.

I had been too careless! I completely forgot that Lin Xiaoya was originally designed as a shut-in!!!